A casing tool

Abstract

The invention concerns a casing tool and a method for connecting casing tubulars using a top drive. The casing tool comprises a top cover that may be connected either releasably or non-releasably to the top drive and an elongated inner body that may be connected releasingly to the top cover. The inner body displays a longitudinally directed through-going channel, preferably with a gasket near one of its longitudinal ends, and comprises a first longitudinal part slideably arranged within the lop cover and a second longitudinal part that may be guided into a casing tubular. One or more radially displaceable clamps is connected to the lower part of the casing tool for engaging the inside wall of the casing tubular. The radial displacement of the clamps is achieved by use of radial displacement means.

1 . A casing tool ( 1 ) for connecting casing tubulars ( 4 , 5 ) using a top drive, the casing tool ( 1 ) comprising
 a top cover ( 100 ) connectable to the top drive and   an elongated inner body ( 6 ) connected releasingly to the top cover ( 100 ),   said inner body ( 6 ) comprising a first longitudinal part ( 6 ′) slideably arranged within the top cover ( 100 ) and a second longitudinal part ( 6 ″) guidable into a casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ),   characterized in that   
       the casing tool ( 1 ) further comprising
 a first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) arranged concentric and axial displaceable along at least part of the inner body ( 6 ) at an axial distance (d) from the top cover ( 100 ), 
 force transferring means ( 200 ) for transferring axially a first external axial force (F 1 ) exerted on the top cover ( 100 ) at least partly to the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ), 
 at least one clamp ( 34 ) connected radially displaceable to the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) for engaging the inside wall of the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ) and 
 radial displacement means ( 9 ) extending at least partly along the second longitudinal part ( 6 ″) of the inner body ( 6 ) for imparting radial displacement on at least one of the at least one clamp ( 34 ) during relative axial displacement of the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) and the inner body ( 6 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . The casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the first external axial force (F 1 ) being exerted after an obstruction of axial displacement of the inner body ( 6 ) relative to the casing tubular ( 4 ) during use.   
     
     
         3 . The casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with  claim 1  or  2 ,
 characterized in that the casing tool ( 1 ) further comprising 
 a first impact means ( 10 ) configured to abut the end of the casing tubing ( 4 , 5 ) during insertion therein, 
 where an obstruction of the axial displacement of the inner body ( 6 ) relative to the casing tubular ( 4 ) during use is ensured by connecting the first impact means ( 10 ) to the inner body ( 6 ) via the force transferring means ( 200 ). 
 
     
     
         4 . The casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with  claim 3 , characterized in that the first impact means ( 10 ) comprising a first impact face ( 10 ′) situated between the end of the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) facing the top cover ( 100 ) and the radial displacement means ( 9 ). 
     
     
         5 . The casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
 characterized in that the force transferring means ( 200 ) comprising   a second sleeve ( 14 - 17 ; 16 , 51 ) adjacent to the end of the top cover ( 100 ) facing the second longitudinal part ( 6 ″) and   at least one locking means ( 12 ; 52 - 58 ) arranged in contact with the axial end of the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) facing the top cover ( 100 ),   wherein the force transferring means ( 200 ) is configured to activate a mainly casing tubing directed axial displacement of the at least one locking means ( 12 ; 52 - 58 ) when an axial force is exerted on the second sleeve ( 14 - 17 ; 16 , 51 ).   
     
     
         6 . The casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
 characterized in that the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) comprising   an inner tubing ( 8 ) extending at least across the radial displacement means ( 9 ′) situated on the inner body ( 6 ) and   a flange ( 11 ) connected to the end of the inner tubing ( 8 ) facing the top cover ( 100 ), the outer diameter of the flange ( 11 ) being larger than the outer diameter of the inner tubing ( 8 ).   
     
     
         7 . The casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
 characterized in that the radial displacement means ( 9 ) comprising at least one first tapered face ( 9 ′).   
     
     
         8 . Casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with  claim 7 ,
 characterized in that the at least one of the at least one clamp ( 34 ) comprising at least one second tapered face ( 9 ″) facing the at least one first tapered face ( 9 ′).   
     
     
         9 . Casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
 characterized in that the axial end ( 18 ) of the top cover ( 100 ) facing the second longitudinal part ( 6 ″) and the axial end of the force transferring means ( 200 ) facing the top cover ( 100 ) are configured as interacting cam bodies ( 18 , 16 ′) allowing interconnection by rotation.   
     
     
         10 . Casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with  claim 9 ,
 characterized in that the interacting cam bodies ( 18 , 16 ′) are configured to allow a top cover directed axial displacement of the second sleeve ( 14 - 17 ; 16 , 51 ) when the interacting cam bodies ( 18 , 16 ′) are rotated into the interconnected state and a third external axial force (F 3 ) is exerted on the top cover ( 100 ), wherein said axial displacement of the second sleeve ( 14 - 17 ; 16 , 51 ) causes the at least one clamp ( 34 ) to release the radial force on the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ) set up by any radial displacement.   
     
     
         11 . Casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with one of  claims 5 - 10 ,
 characterized in that the casing tool ( 1 ) further comprising at least one second sleeve connected release mechanism ( 23 , 31 , 34 , 35 ; 23 , 60 ) configured to allow a top cover directed axial displacement of the second sleeve ( 14 - 17 ; 16 , 51 ).   
     
     
         12 . Method using a casing tool ( 1 ) in accordance with one of  claims 1 - 11 , the method comprising the following steps:
 inserting the second longitudinal part ( 6 ″) of the inner body ( 6 ) a predetermined length into the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ), the length being set by a first impact means ( 10 ) connected to the inner body ( 6 ) to hinder axial displacement of the inner body ( 6 ) relative to the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ) and   exerting a first casing tubular directed external axial force (F 1 ) on the top cover ( 100 ) causing equally directed axial displacements of the top cover ( 100 ), the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) and the at least one clamp ( 34 ),   whereby engagement of the casing tool ( 1 ) with the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ) is achieved by interaction with the radial displacement means ( 9 ) imparting radial displacement of at least one of the at least one clamp ( 34 ) during said axial displacements.   
     
     
         13 . Method in accordance with  claim 12 , characterized in that the method further comprising the step:
 releasing the first casing tubular directed external axial force (F 1 ) on the top cover ( 100 ),   exerting a second external axial force (F 2 ) directed opposite to the first external axial force (F 1 ), thereby exerting a second external axial force directed tension on the inner body ( 6 ) increasing the relative axial force between the clamp ( 34 ) and the inner body ( 6 ).   
     
     
         14 . Method in accordance with  claim 12  or  13 , characterized in that the method further comprising the step:
 exerting a third external axial force (F 3 ) on the top cover ( 100 ) in direction of the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ) causing equally directed axial displacements of top cover ( 100 ) and rotating the top cover ( 100 ), thereby achieving an interconnected assembly comprising the top cover ( 100 ), the second sleeve ( 14 - 17 ; 16 , 51 ) and the inner body ( 6 ) and 
 raising the assembly, causing a top cover directed axial displacement of the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) and the at least one clamp ( 34 ), thereby releasing the engagement between the casing tool ( 1 ) and the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ) through interaction with the radial displacement means ( 9 ). 
 
     
     
         15 . Method in accordance with one of  claims 12 - 14 , characterized in that the method further comprising the step:
 activating at least one second sleeve connected release mechanism ( 23 , 31 , 34 , 35 ; 23 , 60 ) causing a top cover directed axial displacement of the first sleeve ( 8 , 11 ) and at least one of the at least one clamp ( 34 ), thereby releasing the engagement between the casing tool ( 1 ) and the casing tubular ( 4 , 5 ) through interaction with the radial displacement means ( 9 ).